# Exploring Innovation as a Mindset with Chuck Swoboda

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2020-03-24
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com/13

## Summary

Chuck Swoboda, former CEO of Cree, Inc. and host of Innovators on Tap, discusses his book The Innovator’s Spirit and his definition of innovation as solving a problem and creating value, distinct from invention. He explains how Cree balanced manufacturing rigor with innovation by using parallel R&D and secret teams, and advises large companies like Rockwell Automation to create separate, high-stakes teams for breakthrough work. Swoboda also shares career advice, urging early-career professionals to seize opportunities rather than manage their careers, and emphasizes the importance of leadership through influence and honest feedback.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=0) Introduction: Chuck Swoboda and the Live Format
- [4:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=280) The Genesis of Innovators on Tap and The Innovator’s Spirit
- [8:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=497) Defining Innovation: Problem Solving and Value Creation
- [11:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=684) Cree’s Strategy: Balancing Manufacturing Rigor with Innovation
- [13:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=801) Innovating in Large Companies: Secret Teams and Risk
- [23:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=1395) Career Advice: Seizing Opportunities vs. Managing Careers
- [25:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=1524) Leadership: Influence, Feedback, and Brutal Truth
- [38:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda#t=2316) Failure, Media Mavericks, and Community Giving

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Cree, Inc. (company)
- Innovators on Tap (other)
- The Innovator’s Spirit (other)
- Marquette University (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Milwaukee Brewing Company (company)
- American Family Insurance (company)
- Google Ventures (company)
- Ford (company)
- General Electric (company)
- Philips (company)
- Osram (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [509: Swarmed by Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-09-05-509-swarmed-by-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [S6E27 Stephen Hinch | Lessons from HP & Disruptive Innovations](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations) (Being an Engineer)
- [Creating Manufacturing Environments Where Engineers Can Thrive w/ Josh Tarbutton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-12-02-creating-manufacturing-environments-where-engineers-can-thrive-w-josh-tarbutton) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Live From HIBT Summit: Payal Kadakia, Tristan Walker, and Perry Chen on Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-07-22-live-from-hibt-summit-payal-kadakia-tristan-walker-and-perry-chen-on-innovation) (How I Built This)
- [Why It's Time to Formalize Innovation w/ Jeff Winter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-08-15-why-its-time-to-formalize-innovation-w-jeff-winter) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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